Shop Local: Local Shops that Craft with Cricut

I started my business in May of 2017 and I’ve enjoyed every minute of creating! I had a rough couple of years when I lost my mom and my son to illness. I needed a creative outlet to help me through my grief. I came up with the name “The Blue Heart” in memory of my son, Cooper. Crafting and creating has always been a passion of mine, but even more so now because it has helped me through some of my toughest days! I fill all custom orders and have done a variety of things: shirts/apparel, personalized wooden step stools, classroom decor, bulletin board decor, birthday/baby shower/wedding shower banners (paper/felt/fabric), centerpieces for parties, wooden signs/decorations, personalization on holiday items (trick or treat bags, Christmas stockings, etc.)

Top Three Christmas items:

• • Holiday shirts
  • Custom banners (great for a fireplace display)
  • Decorative holiday pillows

The Cricut Maker is awesome! You can switch the blades out to cut a variety materials including: paper, cardstock, poster board, vinyl, fabric, felt, and many other materials. I pay monthly for Cricut Access, which unlocks thousands of images and fonts to make creating a little easier. I have joined many Cricut groups on Facebook to learn new techniques and share ideas with others who also use the Cricut for crafting. Really the possibilities are endless with the Cricut Maker. I didn’t know a lot about it when I got started. I began by just doing custom banners and step stools, and then added more and more once I got more experience. I truly enjoy every minute!

Character Bowtique Customs by Stephanie Stonebraker

What: I make keepsake birthday outfits. Cake smash outfits for little boys with the works- diaper cover, suspenders, bow tie, party hat. Little girls tutus and birthday shirts, high chair banners and coordinating parent and sibling shirts to tie it all together- no detail left behind!

1- Plan ahead — we mothers are the most methodical planners, and we don’t rest until our vision is met.

2- Have a vision or theme — with my girls, our themes were sentimental

3- Be creative! When purchasing, work with the shop owner. They are creative beings and work with colors, textures and patterns all day long, they are likely to have great ideas as well.

If you’re a hands-on learner, see your local Jo-Ann fabric store! They host classes! They give all the basic information, and give you tips and tricks as well that will help you along the way. Learn how to coordinate fonts together so they complement one another, and when you do a cursive font- be sure to WELD so the letters are attached and flow smoothly attached together.

Dots & Daisies by Wesley Thomson

What: Decals for drinkware, signage, t-shirts, decor, handmade paper crafts, banners, cupcake toppers, invitations.

Top Three Holiday Gifts:

1.       Tumblers or water bottles- everyone needs to stay hydrated or unwind a little!

2.       Motivational workout shirts- You know we will all be headed back to the gym after the New Year!

3.       Custom shirts- #letyourdecaldothetalking, enough said!

Advice:

Let it be fun! It can be frustrating or overwhelming in the beginning. There is such a wealth of information and resources out in the world of Cricut. It is a rabbit hole because as soon as you learn a technique or how to do something you are sparked by something else you have seen and have to learn how to complete the next project. The most appealing thing to me is that Cricut allows one to be beyond creative. It has been a therapeutic outlet for me. I have expressed my personality through some of my creations and also got to know some of my customers’ uniqueness as well.

I use the Cricut Explore Air. An XL scrapper is a must have for me! It covers more area, helps me have clean, crisp folds, and peel up materials from the cutting mat. I also recommend a large cutting mat (12×24) to help with bigger projects. Also, my new favorite is my Cricut Easy Press. It seals the vinyl with more even pressure and heat distribution than what a typical household iron can.

Top Three Holiday Gifts:

1. Stocking holder sign. These are great if you don’t have a chimney to hang your stockings on/

2. Merry Mail Holder. Everyone gets lots of Christmas cards around the holidays and most don’t have anywhere to hang them. A sign that holds all the cards is a great way to display your cards from family members.

3. Personalized signs. Last name signs are very popular Christmas gifts. These can be any color/ theme.

My go-to product is vinyl. It’s fairly easy to learn how to do on the Cricut. The tool I use most often is what came in the basic set (weeder, tweezers and scraper). I always buy my vinyl and transfer paper on amazon because it’s cheaper AND I get it two day free shipping.

What:  My biggest sellers are shirts & ornaments. This year I’m adding dish towels, blankets, and oven mitts. Send me ideas, and I will try my best to make it with my own little spin!

Advice: Watch YouTube videos! I also suggest joining Cricut Facebook groups. I’ve been able to add several items to my shop from ideas from others around the country. I suggest buying the starter pack it includes: weeder (hook tool that reminds me of the teeth scraper the dental hygienist uses), scraper, scissors, spatula, & tweezers. If you plan to do big items buy the large mat as well.

Tips: Buy vinyl on Amazon or shop Joann’s when they have sales on Cricut items.  I like to stock up during sales with extra blades, mats, etc.